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Publication of Volume 2 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry Report

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Suella Braverman) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:Today the Manchester Arena Inquiry has published Volume 2 of its report, which has been laid before the House. The report can be found at www.manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk and on GOV.UK. The third and final volume of the Inquiry’s report will be published at a later date. This report relates to the emergency response into the Manchester Arena attack. I am grateful for the strength and courage of the victims’ families and the survivors, and the engagement of all those who have shared their experiences to ensure the Inquiry can deliver its vital work. I am grateful too for the bravery of the emergency services who responded to the attack. Steps have already been taken to implement learning from the attack to improve joint working between the emergency services when responding to terrorist attacks. The Government will review this report and consider where further improvements can be made and will respond to its content in due course. I would also like to thank Sir John Saunders for his continued and considerable efforts in ensuring that the Inquiry is a success and that lessons are learned for the future from this tragic attack.

Leader of the House of Lords

Cabinet Committees

Lord True: My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement:Cabinet CommitteesToday I am publishing an updated Cabinet Committee list. I have placed a copy of the new list in the Libraries of both Houses.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: My Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Cleverly), has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:Following the meeting between the then Prime Minister, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for South West Norfolk, and Prime Minister Jugnauth at the UN General Assembly, the UK and Mauritius have decided to begin negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago.Through negotiations, taking into account relevant legal proceedings, it is our intention to secure an agreement on the basis of international law to resolve all outstanding issues, including those relating to the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago. This will allow the UK and Mauritius, as close Commonwealth partners, to work even more closely together to tackle the regional and global security challenges that face us all. We will seek to strengthen significantly our cooperation on Indian Ocean security, maritime security and marine protection, the conservation of the environment, climate change, respect for human rights, and to tackle illegal migration, illegal fishing, drugs and arms trafficking, as well as bilateral cooperation on a range of other issues. We will work to do this in cooperation with key allies and partners in the region.The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in regional and global security. We recognise the US’s and India’s interests and will keep them informed of progress.The UK and Mauritius have agreed to engage in constructive negotiations, with a view to arriving at an agreement by early next year.

Department for Work and Pensions

Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Later today I will lay before this House the Office for Nuclear Regulation Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022. These documents will also be published on the ONR website.I can confirm, in accordance with Schedule 7, Section 25(3) of the Energy Act 2013, that there have been no exclusions to the published documents on the grounds of national security.